Skip to content
Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Northern Ireland vs Norway. International Match.

Windsor ParkAttendance10,500.

Northern Ireland 0

    Norway 3

    • H Nordtveit (44th minute)
    • T Elyounoussi (87th minute)
    • E Ruud (93rd minute)

    O'Neill reign starts with defeat

    Image: Michael O'Neill's reign started with defeat

    Michael O'Neill's reign as Northern Ireland manager did not start as he would have liked as his side lost 3-0 at home to Norway.

    New manager, but same outcome for Northern Ireland

    Michael O'Neill's reign as Northern Ireland manager did not start well as his side lost 3-0 at home to Norway. Despite dominating the game for long periods Northern Ireland lacked the killer instinct and failed to make their possession pay. The result means the men in green have won just one of their last 10 home games, and the new manager will be looking to make Windsor Park the fortress it once was. O'Neill's first teamsheet included recalled duo Dean Shiels and Shane Ferguson, both absent from the national set-up for the last two years of Nigel Worthington's tenure. There was also a change at the back, with Jonny Evans given the chance to establish himself in his preferred centre-back position in place of Gareth McAuley, who was shifted to right-back. David Healy was on the bench but with 17 minutes left became his country's most capped outfield player - cap number 92 taking him clear of Mal Donaghy. Northern Ireland's first attack, in the second minute, saw full-back Ryan McGivern break down the left and fire a powerful effort at goal. Goalkeeper Rune Jarstein reacted well to tip it over the crossbar only for Shiels to produce a tame header from the resulting corner. Ferguson was next to try his luck down the left and his deflected cross just evaded Martin Paterson on the six-yard line. The lively start found the fans in noticeably better voice than they had been at the end of the Worthington era, with O'Neill's arrival in the technical area warmly welcomed. Clingan was using the ball well in midfield, freeing Ferguson again as a quick Northern Ireland break again stretched the visiting defence. Norway were content to counter-attack in the opening 20 minutes, but too often left Mohammed Abdellaoue isolated up front. Northern Ireland endured a nervy moment after 25 minutes, a weak defensive header from Ferguson handing Norway a clear opportunity on the right-hand side of the penalty area. Luckily, it fell to full-back Tom Hogli, who blazed over.

    Chance

    Moments later Northern Ireland had the best chance so far. Ferguson's cross was poorly dealt with, leading to a frenetic couple of seconds that saw Steven Davis, Paterson and McAuley all try to force the ball over the line from close range. Davis was closest to success, with McAuley's sliced effort ending the danger. There was a warning for the home side too when Erik Huseklepp worked Camp at the near post. John Arne Riise twice looked primed for spectacular volleys but made negligible contact with both attempts. Norway did take the lead a minute before the break when Aaron Hughes half-cleared a corner as far as Nordtveit, whose low shot beat Camp via the unfortunate Clingan. O'Neill made two changes at the interval, Grant McCann on for Corry Evans and Michael Duff ending a four-year exile in place of Hughes. McCann was quick to make an impression, winning the ball in midfield, carrying it 10 yards and forcing a fingertip save from 25 yards. At the other end Camp fumbled Riise's near-post effort but was lucky to see Daniel Braaten botch the rebound. Shiels was lively in his role linking midfield and attack and his cross on the hour allowed Davis a header at goal. A clever through ball from McGivern then found Shiels clear of his man inside the area but a crucial saving tackle snuffed out the danger. With a little over 20 minutes remaining, O'Neill turned to winger Paddy McCourt, who came on for the impressive Ferguson. McCourt was quick to make an impact too, twice beating his man on the left and sending in testing crosses. Healy, meanwhile, had been left waiting long enough for his record-breaking appearance and he was next off the bench to replace Paterson. The Rangers striker was unable to mark the occasion with a goal but Norway had time for two more. Elyounoussi extended the visitors' lead three minutes from time when he beat Camp at the near post, before Ruud's superb stoppage-time volley made it 3-0 despite the Nottingham Forest keeper getting a strong hand to it.
    Northern Ireland Team Statistics Norway
    0 Goals 3
    0 1st Half Goals 1
    2 Shots on Target 6
    6 Shots off Target 6
    2 Blocked Shots 0
    3 Corners 8
    6 Fouls 12
    6 Offsides 4
    0 Yellow Cards 0
    0 Red Cards 0
    80 Passing Success 76.5
    11 Tackles 8
    81.8 Tackles Success 75
    60 Possession 40
    49.1 Territorial Advantage 50.9
    564 Total Passes 375
    26 Total Crosses 14
    183 Lost Balls 171
    55 Recoveries 61

    Around Sky